Landmines

Landmines in Angola

Landmines and unexploded ordnance

Land mines and unexploded ordnance are weapons of war that continues to kill and maim people long after armed conflicts end. Fear of known or suspected land mines and unexploded ordnance are major obstacles to social and economic development because it blocks access to land, buildings and technical installations necessary for production, distribution and consumption of food, goods and basic public services.

A man with an amputed leg try to recover moviments with a prothesis	Preparing to work in a mine field

People in close proximity to landmines and unexploded ordnance requires alternatives in terms of availability of land, jobs and modes of transportation in order to adapt to the threat of their lives, limbs and animals. Assistance to remove such weapons of war is vital in order to avoid humanitarian disasters and lay ground for social and economic development.

Landmines and unexploded ordnance in Angola

Thirty years of war and many involved parties have made Angola to one of the hardest affected countries by landmines and unexploded ordnance in the world.

• INAROEE estimates that there are between 5 and 7 million landmines and unexploded ordnances on or under the ground in Angola.
• INAROEE database has recorded 1607 accidents and 2638 victims because of landmines and unexploded ordnance from 1995 to 2001.

Unused ammunition pile

Parts of Angola's population are forced to live and work in areas infested by landmines without adequate possibilities to transport food, medicines and other goods. People fleeing the war unaware of the local presence of landmines and unexploded ordnances are especially at risk. This makes humanitarian demining a priority for the Government of Angola.